Monday, August 11, 2008

NIne Months Today.....Life is Good!

I still count my days because this really is a one day at at a time kinda thing but I also look at milestones. Nine months is 3/4s of a year. I am blown away that it has been nine months! It seems just like the other day I was researching online if I wanted to give the Chantix a try because I was on Nicotine patches and when I "Stepped down" to the 14 milligram ones, they were not working well at all for me. I was slipping and sliding all over the place. I went on Chantx, dealt with some really obnoxious side effects and have been off the drug for about three months now!

For those of you who think this is an effortless quit, this has been far from a party but definitely worth it! Since I quit, I have saved a ton of money, am not a slave to a big Marlboro and don't stink. I have two more hours additional time every day because I do not have to go wander around looking for a place to smoke! Don't get me wrong, I still go through rough patches and I still want to smoke at times; but I just don't do it. I have learned through this journey to take opposite actions and the feelings will pass. The other day I posted a really long blog because I was super pissed. When I am pissed, it triggers my desire to smoke. Writing is a way better outlet than smoking. By the time I was done with that post, I not only had no desire to smoke but I actually felt empathy for the lady and her addiction and went back and rewrote some stuff as my feelings had changed about what was happening. What that situation was unpleasant, it could not have come at a better time. It confirmed my desire to stay a non-smoker and made me realize that I have no desire to go back to being a slave to big Nicotine Could I slip and smoke? Sure... but taking actions that I know are going to help me rather than drag me back to cigarettes is how I have to do it, one day at a time.

I want to give a shout out to all my fellow on-line pals who are or have been blogging about their own quit journey. If you were around longer than me, started after me or even if you went back to smoking; I truly appreciate all the feedback I have received from everyone. You guys rock! I feel super grateful that I have gotten to get to know such a great group of people. I am off to go do some shopping for my trip to Nashville. I am leaving on Saturday and will be gone for two weeks! I am really excited as it is a new beginning for me in terms of diet and exercise.

Congratulations Diva!! There have been some super people I met during the early days of my quit and you've stuck it out with me - thank you!!Are you headed to Nashville for vacation or something else?You really have come out on the other side of some bad shit and so I know you will also conquer the weight issues, it's "YOU" that rocks Diva.Keep moving forward!!!

Ah, thanks Mama! I am going to Nashville to vacation....at a fitness camp of all places! I will probably not be eating soul food or red velvet cake! I will be working out with 14 other campers twice daily, learning about nutrition and jumpstarting another lifestyle change. It will be a ggrowth experience. I am not calling this a diet...its all about making lifestyle changes that I can live with and still lose weight! You are lucky that you don't have the weight issues but I had no idea you had those type of breating issues to deal with. You are right, the ramifications of cigarettes are different for each of us.Peace,Diva

GOOD FOR YOU!! CONGRATS!! Milestones are very important to note in any endeavor that you're working toward. They are big accomplishments!! That's awesome!! I love writing as an outlet too, it's funny -- I recently got super pissed, went straight to the computer, fired off my post (about not being able to go to Germany) and felt worlds better and now I am one with it. So therapeutic, isn't it?? And cheap! hahaha!

ps. you can join wordless wednesday, it's a meme! www.wordlesswednesday.com and they actually do it every day! (though I choose to do wednesday only). anyway, congrats!

I think you're cool Diva. and doing great ... !! the camp thing sounds brilliant. i was once looking for a stopping smoking spa, found one, tried to book and they'd stopped the quit smoking break.how much does your 14 dayer cost?Chris x

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About Me

I am currently blogging away about my experiences using the stop smoking drug Chantix to quit my 30 year addiction to nicotine and tobacco. I also talk about my life in general now that the cravings have subsided.